Sunday, April 7, 2013

A Warm Welcoming to Philadelphia

I can not believe that I am back in Philadelphia again. It seems like it has been forever since the last time I have visited, which was in the summer. It's still hard for me to believe that this city, and this school, is where I will be attending for the next four years. Don't get me wrong! I am really excited to have this opportunity. It just seems unbelievable that it's all happening right now.

Eating pho in Chinatown!

Today I arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport only to be greeted by ILC alums/current Penn students Alex Elms and Christina Pelayo. They took me to my hotel and afterwards we ate lunch in Chinatown. I was really fortunate to have them take me around town and campus. I learned how to take the subway (septa) and also got to tour several of the college houses with Alex.

It felt like I was in a new city since I saw everything from a different perspective. It's quite different from the summer. There weren't groups of students touring the campus and it was not as hot. I didn't really feel like I was touring anymore but I felt more like a student. Maybe it's because I have been accepted into UPenn?

Same path but different shoes - Locust Walk

At some point in time, everything became familiar again. That is when I began to have nostalgic memories of the summer I spent with my Yale cohort. It felt strange not being with them. Fortunately, Tanya (a member of my Yale cohort) was admitted to Penn as well and I'll be meeting up with her during preview day. Still, it is bittersweet knowing that my friends and I will split ways as we go off to college. And that those memories we made will forever only be memories. To think that college would creep up this quickly.

A view from Harrison college house

ILC family (Alex Elms, Me, Dyana So, and Christina Pelayo)

Having students at Penn that come from my school district is definitely helpful. They help provide me with support and valuable insight on life at Penn. I know this is the first time I have met them, but it already feels like we are a family, bonded by the ILC, UPenn, and the WCCUSD.

1 comment:

Leaving home to attend college can be a real; shock to the system. You think that you’re leaving your friends and loved ones behind but this is where there’s a real test of character that can be demonstrated.

All throughout your life you’ll be faced with similar situations and you have to decide how important these people are to your life. Right now it’s easy to maintain your friendships because you’re in near daily contact with each of them. Once you’re separated by any distance, though, the only way to maintain those friendships is for each of you to make the conscience decision to reach out and stay in touch.

Back in the olden times (when I grew up), we would send letters (a lost art).

Now, however, you have emails, twitter, Skype, facebook and any number of new and exciting means of staying in touch.

Still, it means that you have to make the effort to reach out--very similar to what we’ve been expecting out of each of our ILCers [ hint, hint :-) ]

About Us

The goal of The Ivy League Connection is to expand the college going culture in the West Contra Costa Unified School District by providing the students of the WCCUSD with the opportunity to participate in summer enrichment programs hosted by highly selective universities.

This effort emphasizes students’ readiness and highlights that teachers have and will continue to produce outstanding students ready to participate in the rigorous programs offered each summer by the Ivy League.

Upon their return from these programs, our students are encouraged to become campus leaders and promote increased awareness of academic opportunities. By becoming campus leaders, they will also instill the value of giving service and encourage the local community to become stronger partners with our schools.

The Ivy League Connection is all about giving back.

The WCCUSD is a diverse, urban school district which has managed to survive through incredible financial adversity (including bankruptcy) for the past two decades. Despite a myriad of obstacles, students have persevered and been resilient in staying focused and not making excuses relating to student achievement. Nonetheless, a great majority of students have not had exposure to the thousands of colleges that exist. The Ivy League Connection is a metaphor for establishing that connection and opening gateways to ensure that more students are conscious about becoming part of a college-going culture.

This endeavor creates an institution with an innovative approach and provides a model for school board members to utilize regarding how to deploy District resources to underwrite student participation in summer enrichment and leadership programs on college campuses. The goal is to significantly boost scholarship in our District by introducing the concept and awareness that outstanding students of talent and high potential will benefit from participating in stimulating summer enrichment programs and that others will also profit when they share their experiences with them upon their return.